And Third Time Pays For All (House/Wilson, post-ep, G)

[daasgrrl]

Title: And Third Time Pays For All
By: daasgrrl
Pairing: not!House/Wilson
Rating: G
Word count: 430
Beta: Thanks to evila_elf for the check-through.
Summary: Quickfic post-ep to “Not Cancer”, just because.


And Third Time Pays For All

After Wilson closes the door, he stands facing it for a moment, tense, waiting for the inevitable outburst to follow. Despite his warnings, he knows that House won’t be able to leave it there; he expects the front door to take a good ten minutes of abuse, both verbal and physical, before House finally leaves him alone. But this time he’s wrong. He breathes in, then out, but there’s only silence. Another full minute goes by before he allows the relief to sweep over him.

But when he turns back into the room, he’s stopped short by the sight of the crumpled ball of hundred-dollar bills, lying at his feet in a silent reminder of what he and House have become to each other. Or maybe what they’ve always been to each other, if he’d been honest with himself from the beginning. His first instinct is to get out the dustpan, sweep it straight into the trash and erase all traces of House’s visit for good. But the amount is enough to make him hesitate; he doesn’t care about the money, but it would mean a lot to many people, and it would be stupid and wasteful to throw it away just because it came from the vicious depths of House’s wallet.

After some hesitation, he bends down and scoops the bills up into his left hand. He straightens them out slowly, one by one, remembering House waving them in his face, one of the only times House has ever offered him money instead of taking it. The thought does not make him feel any better. Present or not, House somehow always manages to have the last word. He wonders briefly if his apartment really is bugged, and then dismisses it. It doesn’t matter. He’ll be gone soon enough.

He’s so very tired of House’s endless mind games, and in the end, that’s why he’s going. Leaving the hospital, leaving the area. Leaving the apartment and all its tasteful furnishings, already bereft of most of Amber‘s personal effects. Almost absently, he opens the empty drawer of the nearby lamp table, puts the notes inside. Let somebody else glean a little happiness from House’s idea of friendship.

Amber’s death has finally taught him what his run-ins with Vogler and Tritter had failed to do; that his first loyalty belongs not to House, but to himself. And this time he will not weaken, whatever the cost. His newfound determination is clean and simple, and leaves him no room for anything else; not for pity, or anger, or remorse.

He shuts the drawer softly and walks away.

Comments

[alemyrddin.livejournal.com]

I was just wondering if they had simply forgotten about the money House threw in there, and I'm very glad of your take on it.

Sure, it hurt, but there's also a little bit of truth when Wilson thinks that this is "House's idea of friendship".

Great job.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for reading! I hadn't intended to write anything, but I just couldn't get over the idea of Wilson having to deal with the money as well after all that.

[bironic.livejournal.com]

:(

...And then Wilson found that the money had, somehow, actually come from *his* wallet.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh god, I hope not - although now you mention it, that seems like a horribly plausible prospect...

[topaz-eyes.livejournal.com]

Present or not, House somehow always manages to have the last word.

Oh, Wilson. As much as he denies it, as much as he tries, he can't walk away. So very sad.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yes, I agree, Wilson won't get very far. I hope. Thanks for reading.

[karaokegal.livejournal.com]

Yes. THIS! Absolutely beautiful. I'd forgotten about the money, and the borrowing as described in Daddy's Boy. As always, great take on the H/W dynamic.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ah, it's all about the angst, isn't it? Thanks for reading, and I can tell you're enjoying this season as much as I am :)

[ignazwisdom.livejournal.com]

Nice tying-up of loose ends. *sadface*

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks - it was nagging at me :(

[captain-tulip.livejournal.com]

*tears*

This was beautiful but it broke my heart. I'm still crossing my fingers that Wilson is going to come bounding back in with a "JUST KIDDING!" and everything will go back to normal.

I know. It's pathetic. :(

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

If it's pathetic, let's all join you there.

Thanks. I know, part of me can't believe Wilson has actually had the strength to act the way he's been doing. Gah.

[aquatic-fishy.livejournal.com]

I was WILLING someone to write a short little something about Wilson picking up the crumpled $400 after House walked away.

Thank you!

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm so glad that was bothering someone else too - thanks for the comment!

[elynittria.livejournal.com]

Ouch. I think this is exactly how Wilson would react to that money. The lack of emotion at the end is painful, though. (In a good way, of course, for us consumers of angst!)

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

Thanks for dropping by - I know, it's very... un-Wilson somehow. I still have this sense of disbelief about it all.

[cane-crazy.livejournal.com]

ouchie D:

Sat it so. say that it'll be better...somehow.

It breaks my (black) heart.

[daasgrrl.livejournal.com]

It will be better soon, because it has to be. I hope your icon says it all!